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unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Alexis Hall set out to write a historical romance with a trans heroine and have her gender not be the key point of conflict in the novel. Not only did he succeed on this point, he also managed to build a novel around lies of omission and half truths that I totally believed in and felt good reading. Often when characters in romance novels hide the truth from one another I get angry about it and extremely stressed.
With Viola, her reasons for not sharing her entire history with Gracewood are completely sympathetic. I was as twisted up about whether she should reveal who she was to him as she was. I also loved the fantasy world that Hall built in which Viola is accepted as who she is almost immediately by everyone she encounters. Conflicts happen but they have nothing to do with her trans-ness, and everything to do with the characters trying to navigate their love for each other in a world that isn’t built for them or a relationship like theirs.
Gracewood is one of the softest, sweetest MMCs I have read for a long time, and he’s also got an extremely dark history. He is injured from the war and uses a cane. He is also battling an opium addiction. He is also a wealthy and powerful duke. Him growing into his power and understand and falling in love with Viola was one of the swooniest things I have read in a lonnnnng time.
I feel the need to mention the superb open door sex scene in this. It felt so necessary and tender, and to be able to see Viola experience the care and joy inherent in physical pleasure as well as Gracewood’s beautiful open-mindedness was a privilege. They both deserved to experience the joy of their bodies, just as they are. It’s just a sex scene but it goes a long way towards normalizing all kinds of physical pleasure for all kinds of bodies and I am so glad it is there.
I feel the need to mention the superb open door sex scene in this. It felt so necessary and tender, and to be able to see Viola experience the care and joy inherent in physical pleasure as well as Gracewood’s beautiful open-mindedness was a privilege. They both deserved to experience the joy of their bodies, just as they are. It’s just a sex scene but it goes a long way towards normalizing all kinds of physical pleasure for all kinds of bodies and I am so glad it is there.
So, we have a high angst novel dealing with strict gender norms, addiction, PTSD and disability…and yet I laughed out loud almost every chapter? What magic is this?
The only gripe I have is the last plot point in this long book felt a little tacked on. I would have been satisfied with more focus on Viola and Gracewood. Nonetheless, a wonder of a book.
The only gripe I have is the last plot point in this long book felt a little tacked on. I would have been satisfied with more focus on Viola and Gracewood. Nonetheless, a wonder of a book.
👍🏻RECOMMENDED. I could write and write and write about this book but ultimately you should read it. If you’re interested in historical romance but worried about strict gender norms, heteronormativity, misogyny and oppressive social structures? This is the book for you. If you’ve read a ton of Hissy RoNos and you’re looking for an angsty, emotional, hilarious, soft love story? This is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual content, Gun violence, War, Death, Drug use, Murder, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Classism, Drug abuse, Grief, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
jessie_h's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Y'all! My heart! This book was everything I could have ever wanted in a historical romance! In fact, I would say it's probably the best regency romance I've ever read. It was incredibly tender and unapologetically queer and so full of hope and joy. The banter and humor was absolutely delightful and had me cackling in places! And y'all! The yearning and the pining was so well-written that you can't stop reading once you start. You have to know what happens next and if they will be able to get their happily ever after. This story made me feel all of the emotions.
I'm becoming more and more convinced that Alexis Hall can write anything they want and will make it totally fabulous. This book was no different. The amount of heart and vulnerability in this story is both astounding and beautiful. I was a bit worried that this would be really angsty given the premise. But while Viola is worried about being judged for choosing to live as her most authentic self, it wasn't the whole plot of the book and I can't tell you how much I appreciated that. There are still some heavy topics discussed in this book and some angst but it was so perfectly balanced out with sweetness and joy. It was heartwarming that everyone who Viola came out to not only accepted her but supported her so fully in her quest to live the life she was meant to.
Viola and Gracewood are war veterans and we see how that has affected them. Gracewood was shot in the leg and has to use a cane for the rest of his life. He also suffers quite severely from PTSD. I am grateful that the author didn't gloss over or minimize those affects like I have seen in several of the Regency romances over the years. Viola does not have PTSD in the same way that Gracewood does but how her actions and choices in the war haunt her is never seen as being less than his trauma.
The romance between Viola and Gracewood was everything! This book is a master class in how to write a romance novel. I saw it described in someone's review that described this romance as a second chance at first love which is a wonderfully apt description. The romance is full of instant attraction but manages to still be a slow burn and very intimate and tender. Watching Viola and Gracewood discover that there is so much more to the other that they didn't know was *chef's kiss*. They aren't perfect but they are perfect for one another. I adored watching them fall in love so much!
It was mentioned in the author's note that this could be the beginning of a new series and I really really hope it is! I loved so many of the secondary characters! And I cannot tell you how much I need a Mira book and a Lady Lilimere book in my life! I can't recommend A Lady for a Duke enough! If you want to read a truly unique and well-written queer historical romance, this is the book for you.
*ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley and this review was originally posted on the Goldilox and the Three Weres blog.
I'm becoming more and more convinced that Alexis Hall can write anything they want and will make it totally fabulous. This book was no different. The amount of heart and vulnerability in this story is both astounding and beautiful. I was a bit worried that this would be really angsty given the premise. But while Viola is worried about being judged for choosing to live as her most authentic self, it wasn't the whole plot of the book and I can't tell you how much I appreciated that. There are still some heavy topics discussed in this book and some angst but it was so perfectly balanced out with sweetness and joy. It was heartwarming that everyone who Viola came out to not only accepted her but supported her so fully in her quest to live the life she was meant to.
Viola and Gracewood are war veterans and we see how that has affected them. Gracewood was shot in the leg and has to use a cane for the rest of his life. He also suffers quite severely from PTSD. I am grateful that the author didn't gloss over or minimize those affects like I have seen in several of the Regency romances over the years. Viola does not have PTSD in the same way that Gracewood does but how her actions and choices in the war haunt her is never seen as being less than his trauma.
The romance between Viola and Gracewood was everything! This book is a master class in how to write a romance novel. I saw it described in someone's review that described this romance as a second chance at first love which is a wonderfully apt description. The romance is full of instant attraction but manages to still be a slow burn and very intimate and tender. Watching Viola and Gracewood discover that there is so much more to the other that they didn't know was *chef's kiss*. They aren't perfect but they are perfect for one another. I adored watching them fall in love so much!
It was mentioned in the author's note that this could be the beginning of a new series and I really really hope it is! I loved so many of the secondary characters! And I cannot tell you how much I need a Mira book and a Lady Lilimere book in my life! I can't recommend A Lady for a Duke enough! If you want to read a truly unique and well-written queer historical romance, this is the book for you.
*ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley and this review was originally posted on the Goldilox and the Three Weres blog.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Grief, and War
Moderate: Kidnapping, Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcoholism
Minor: Child abuse and Death of parent
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Out May 24, 2022 [Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!]
Rating: 5/5 stars
A Lady For A Duke is a friends-to-lovers romance set in Regency-era England and featuring a trans heroine. I could say more, but really you should just read it.
I have been fortunate to be on a 5-star reading streak lately, and this book *still* managed to catapult to the top of a stacked list to become one of my favorites of the year (and maybe ever). I went into this for the trans representation in a historical romance and definitely got that, but also got so much more, including disability rep, a gorgeous friends-to-lovers story, absolutely hilarious banter, incredibly thoughtful and poignant reflections on gender/identity/ableism and more, plus a new favorite book boyfriend in Gracewood.
Without giving away too much of the plot, I also adored that the third act tension was largely external (I wish this were the case in more romances) and the epilogue was the pitch perfect amount of closure while still leaving room for a sequel/spin-off (PLEASE, I need Miranda’s story!) I was also thoroughly entertained from beginning to end, and actively wished the book would just keep going so I didn’t have to leave this world and these characters. In short, this was my first Alexis Hall read but it *definitely* will not be my last.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: diverse representation in historical romance; friends-to-lovers; dynamic supporting characters.
CW: Ableism; deadnaming; mental illness/addiction/PTSD; grief; physical disability/war injury; mentions of child abuse; kidnapping.
Rating: 5/5 stars
A Lady For A Duke is a friends-to-lovers romance set in Regency-era England and featuring a trans heroine. I could say more, but really you should just read it.
I have been fortunate to be on a 5-star reading streak lately, and this book *still* managed to catapult to the top of a stacked list to become one of my favorites of the year (and maybe ever). I went into this for the trans representation in a historical romance and definitely got that, but also got so much more, including disability rep, a gorgeous friends-to-lovers story, absolutely hilarious banter, incredibly thoughtful and poignant reflections on gender/identity/ableism and more, plus a new favorite book boyfriend in Gracewood.
Without giving away too much of the plot, I also adored that the third act tension was largely external (I wish this were the case in more romances) and the epilogue was the pitch perfect amount of closure while still leaving room for a sequel/spin-off (PLEASE, I need Miranda’s story!) I was also thoroughly entertained from beginning to end, and actively wished the book would just keep going so I didn’t have to leave this world and these characters. In short, this was my first Alexis Hall read but it *definitely* will not be my last.
Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: diverse representation in historical romance; friends-to-lovers; dynamic supporting characters.
CW: Ableism; deadnaming; mental illness/addiction/PTSD; grief; physical disability/war injury; mentions of child abuse; kidnapping.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, and Drug use
Moderate: Ableism, Deadnaming, Grief, War, Abandonment, Transphobia, and Classism
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